Reel apparatus for forming coils of cable



Dec. 15, 1953 Q R WEBER REEL APPARATUS FOR FORMING COILS OF CABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 17. 1950 llllffl z 'Iliff/I4 INVENToR. rro f,

Dec. 15, 1953 o. R. WEBER REEL APPARATUS FOR FORMING COILS oF CABLE Filed Aug. 1'7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. I5, 1953 ,anni

REEL APPARATUS FOR FORMING COILS F CABLE Otto R. Weber, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Application August 17, 1950, Serial No. 179,900

3 Claims.

The invention relates to an apparatus for forming cable into coils and more particularly to a reel for both winding cable into coils and for straightening mis-shapen and distorted coils previously formed.

As heretofore practiced, the art of forming cable into coils has involved several disadvantages. Since the reels on which the cables are wound into coils on a winding device are relatively large, expensive and bulky, it is necessary to remove the coils of cable from these reels when the coils are to be shipped or stored. When the coils are thus removed, they have a tendency to be easily warped, distorted or mismshapen, whereby the coils are no longer of a true symmetrical cylindrical form. Consequently considerable difficulties arise in utilizing these die# torted mis-shapen coils and in mounting them on the arbors of devices.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a coil forming reel which is adapted to be quickly and easily inserted within a distorted, non-cylindrical coil of cable and which will then straighten and align the mis shapen coil so as to render the latter symmetrical and cylindrical.

This object is achieved by providing the reel of the present invention with a collapsing segmented arbor. The arbor segments are each pivotally secured at one end to a fixed ange in such a manner that the segments may be pivoted inwardly to a collapsed relation having areduced diameter whereby the arbor may be easily inserted into the opening of a mis-shapen non cylindrical coil. A removable second flange is provided at the other end of the arbor and is adapted to be slidably moved with respect thereto toward the nxed first ange. The second i'lange is provided with a plurality of earns coacting with the arbor segments so as to pivot the latter outwardly upon movement of the second flange toward the first rlange. When the arbor segments are thus pivoted outwardly, the arbor resumes its expanded non-collapsed cylindrical form, so as to press outwardly against the inn terior oi the coil, and in so doing forms the distorted coil into a symmetrical cylindrical shape.

In addition to the coil forming function, the reel of the present invention is also provided with mounting means for securing the reel to a rotatable winding device whereby cable may be Wound into coil form on the arbor of the reel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a groove and channel arrangement in 2. the arbor and the iianges for receiving a tie-wire which is placed in position on the reel before the winding is commenced and then may be easily tied around the wound coil after the winding operation has been completed.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings and described in more detail hereinbelow is intended to be merely illustrative of one of the many forms which the invention may take in practice without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For instance, although the arbor segments are herein shown and described as being pivotally mounted to the iixed ange, other suitable arrangements for mounting the arbor segments for movement toward the arbor axis in a collapsed relation so as to reduce the diameter of the arbor are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, aithough the disclosed form of the invention is provided with a plurality of cam. elements on the movable ange and co-acting with the arbor segments for pivoting the latter outwardly towards their expanded positions, it is to be understood that any other equivalent means for achieving this function may be employed.

Referring to the drawing, in which Fig. l is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line l-i of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational vev.7 of the fixedange end of the reel;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the cam means for pivoting the arbor segments outwardly and also a screw arrangement for moving the removable flange toward the xed iiange;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the means for pivotally mounting the ends of the arbor segments to the fixed flange and also the means for mounting the fixed flange to a rotatable element of a winding device;

f Fig. 5 is a partial side elevational view showing an enlargement of a part of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 'Z is a sectional View taken on the line 'i-l of Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fig. l, the disclosed embodiment of the coil forming reel comprises generally a xed ange ii mounted at one end of a collapsible arbor i2, the latter 'having 'at the other end thereof a removable nange it. in more de tail and as best seen in Fig. 2', the fixed flange i! comprises a circular plate lll having at the outer peripheral edge thereof and rigidly secured thereto an annular reinforcing plate i5 eXtend- 3 ing inwardly toward the axis I6 of the reel and outwardly of the plate I4. A plurality of brace ribs It are secured to the outer surface of the plate It and the inner surface of the plate i5. The brace ribs I 'F extend radially outwardly from a central opening in the plate I4 to the outer peripheral edge of' the latter.A A longitudinal tubular member I8 extends transversely of'- thexed fiange II through the central opening, and the flange I I is secured on one end of the inember I8 as by welding at I9.

The arbor i2 is segmented and comprises aplurality of longitudinal arcuate segments 2! so arranged as to form a collapsiblearb'or f2." having a cylindrical outer surface. As shown in` Fig; 2, the arbor l2 comprises four segments 2t indicated as 2Q', 2e, 253'" and Zm. non-collapsed condition of the arbor l2, the adjacent edges of the arbor segments 2S and' 23" will be spaced apart as indicated at 2i. Similarly the adjacent` edges off' the' otherr adjoining* arbor segments' 2E? will be-spaced'apart-asindicatedlat 22; 23` and 2t, respectively'. Asbest seen-in-l'g; 4f, the left-hand endsof the arbor'segments` 2e' are' provided with downwardly-extending ear ange members 2E-secured` to tli'e under-surface 2S of each ofthe: arbor segments'4 2-'8-2 Ai pairo'f spaced lugs 2'." are securedit'o and extend inwardly' from the inner surface' Zl'of thef pl'at'efof the fixed ii'ange i'I and receive' therebetween the ii'ange member 25. A pin' 2e extendsl throughsuitable alignedapertures' in the* lugs 2- and flange members 2-5 whereby' the arbor'segrnents 2t' willv be' rotatably mounted on the fixed flange- I'I' for pivotal inovem'ent about the axes oft-ne-- respective pins 291 t willi-thus be@ seen that' the arbor segmentsmay be pivoted' inwardly toward the axis I t" of the-arbor I2 whereby the'latter will ars-sume'- a tapered exterior shape'. The segments 2Q' may then be pivoted-outwardly'away from the arborY axisi so that the arbor I2 may resume a` cylindrical shape inthe-expanded' relation' of the arbor segments 2U.

Asr best seen in Figs. l' andl 2, a supporting meansA indicated" generall'yat 3"I' is iixedl'y` secured' on an intermediate portion' of the' tubular mem' ber I8 and comprises a' ci'rcularportionv 3i?v having four integral arms extending radially therefrom. The circular' portion 3? is-apertured so as' to enable the tubular'meinber' I8; toextend therethrough and is fixedly held' thereon by' means' of welding" indicated'at` 34', A plurality of diagonally extendingV brace elements serve to'- rigidi'fyv the' supporting means 3l. Each of" the radially extending arms 33- is provided at'its' outermost'end' with a lug portion S'Shaving a threaded aperture extending therethrough. A threaded'stud or pin'- 3i' extends within eachofthe apertures and in threaded engagement'therewith' at the innermost end of the pin 3'?.

The removable flange I 3'isf` constructed similar' to the fixed ange- I I" andl compri'sesav plate IAT", an' annular reinforcing-plata I 5' secured thereto, and a plurality of radially-extending reinforcing ribs' I"I". A sleeve-33" is: secure-d' to thelplate'M ill' and has a bearing opening extending there'- through so as to enable the removable flange I3 to slide on the' tubular member -I 3.

The` pins' 3ixtend outwardly from'v their threaded ends,` and through suitable' aperturesin the plate It of the' removable flange itil The outermost ends: of' the pins 3l' are provided with bolt heads 38 or other'suitable wrench-engageable means for turning' the pins 3T. A plurality of washers 39 are each mounted on a` respective Ini the expe ded pin 31 between the bolt head 32 and the outer surface of the plate I t and are preferably cured to the latter as cy welding at t. A cani element 4I surrounds each of the pins and xedly secured to the inner surface of the pl. c I4 as by welding at 42. The upper portion of ""1 cam'. element 4'! is provided adjacent its most'en'd with a hat surface' 6'2 extending parallel to the axis I5 of the reel. The upper portion of each of the cam elements QI is also provide with a.-v dnwnwardly. sloping fiat surface t3 extending fromithe surface 42 to the inner moet end of the cam element 4I. As best seen in 6, the lower surface offeach of thearbor segments 2Q is provfdedwith;a.longitudinally-extending and r1ownwardIy'-projecting'rib 44 having a flat under surface-y lls adapted; to abut against and co-act with thesurfaces 42, 43 over the respective cam eloments 4I, as will be described in more detail below.

'Ilhen pins 115 are rotatively mounted'. within; the aperturesformed'in the lugs', elements` .f-l i',V plate I41'-"andwashers 39. It will' be obviousA that byv rotating. the boltheads' by inf-:ans4 of a wrench or other suitable mean's'- the?y respective pins-3T will'v be' caused to rotate \.vithA respect to the --threaded apertures in the lugs 53'6; so' as: to'- ad'- Vance inwardly or outwardly inzalongitudinal cli'- rection; By' rotatingthe pins-3i so asto move them inwardly, the'- bolt'heads' 38 1'will' abut' against. the-washers39'so'as1to' cause the vremovable4 flangel IS'- to' be slid'ably'm'oved al'ongf the tubular'meniber- I8`f inwardly'towards the' fixed flange II. By rotating'thepi'ns in the' opposite direction, the threaded' ends will' become disengaged from' thel threaded lues' 38E The removable flange 31 is then' no-l'onger secured' in' assembled' position and may lie-slid"A outwardly'a'long the` tubular member I8 and finally removed therefrom.v

A's: best' seen in'y Fig.' 7', the'- o'uter surfaces of th'earbor segments 26 are provided with longiltudinally' extending grooves or channels and' I'I, I'3 are providedwith a plurality of rectangu :7' openingsI 475. The-plates I4; Iii-"are also provid on the inner surfaces with grooves or' channels 48';extending'radially'froin the-openings'fl to the outer peripheral edges4 of the pla-tes' I4', I'l. channels 46', openings lll' and grooves4 dif-are util-- ized'in.Y mounting ay tie-wireon' the-reel prepara-4 tory'to'--winding acable into coil. forni thereon, as will' be' explained' in' more' detail below. See tothe-annular brace flanges i5, I 5 are a plural y of-'li'ook'elements 49'to which the ends ofthe t1c-- f wires` may be'Y secured'.

Operation.y

The reel apparatus of the present invention ls` capable' of two' entirely distinct'mo'des of operation. The apparatus may be rotated on a winding device soas to win'd a cable into coil' form around the arbor I2. The apparatus may also beA ernployed to straighten into symmetrical, cylindrical shape a distorted or warped coil which has been previously' formed.

When' the apparatusisfto be used for winding or reeling-1 cable into coils around the arbory I2;

the tubular elements 5@ are mounted on suitable projections on the rotating element or the winding device, adapted to rotate the reel about axis lf3. Before the winding operation is commenced, the reel is assembled in the form shown in Fig. 1. The wires are then inserted through the openings fil', each tie wire being placed longitudinally within one oi the channels Eid, formed in the exterior surface of the arbor I 2. The opposite ends of the tie wires are then extended radially outwardly 'through the grooves de, formed in the plates iii, isi' and are then extended around the outer peripheral edges of the latter and are secured to the hook elements de. The reel is then rotated about the axis IS so as to wind the cable into a coil on the arbor l2. After the winding operation has been completed, the ends of the tie wires are detached from the hook elements it and are brought together around the exterior of the coil and are tied. lt will tl-us be seen that by providing channels and grooves for receiving the tie wires and holding them in position on the reel as the cable is wound thereon, a simple and quick method for securing the coils with tie wires is obtained,

When the reel oi the present invention is to be employed for straightening or aligning inisshapen or distorted coils which have already 'been formed, the removable ange it is irst removed.

This is accompanied by turning the head bolts 3S with a wrench or other suitable means so as to thread the studs Ztl outwardly from the threaded lugs 36. It will be obvious that after the studs have been disengaged from the lugs 3.53, the

removable i'iange i3 may be slid along the tubular member it in a direction away from the flange I l and then finally removed from the righthand end (as viewed in Fig. l.) oi the tubular member i3. The arbor segments 2u will then be free to pivot about the pins i9 inwardly toward the axis id so as to be in a collapsed condition and its exterior shape will then be tapered to ward the right-hand end. Since the right-hand end will then have a reduced diameter, it may be inserted within the axial opening of a cable coil even though the coil is considerably warped or distorted, After the warped non-symmetrical coil is placed on the collapsed arbor l2, the removable ilange i3 is slid on the right-hand end the tubular member lf3 and the threaded ends ,l

the arbor segments 2s abut against the downwardlymsloping :dat surfaces dit of the cam elements ill. The studs 3l are then threaded further into the threaded apertures formed in the lugs by rotating the head bolts 33. This causes the flange i3 to be moved inwardly along the tubular inember id and toward the fixed flange l i. As the flange it is thus moved inwardly, the undersuraces its ci the arbor segments ride up the sloping surfaces de oi the cam elements lll so as to pivot the arbor segments 2li outwardly about the pins 2S and away from the axis l toward their expanded positions. As the arbor segments tu move outwardly, arbor i2 resumes an expanded cylindrical shape and in so expanding presses against the interior of the :nis-shapen coil so as to straighten and align the latter into true cylindrical form. The flange i3 may then be removed by unscrewing the studs ill and the straightened coil easily removed from the arbor iii after the latter has again been collapsed.

CII

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

1. An apparatus for forming cable into coils comprising a plurality of arcuate segments aligned so as to form a segmented cylindrical arbor around which a coil of cable may be placed, a rst flange at one end of said arbor, means pivotally mounting to said flange the ends of said arbor segments adjacent thereto for pivotal movement of the segments in planes extending through the axis of the arbor, whereby the segments may be pivoted toward said axis so as to render the arbor tapered, a second flange at the other end of the arbor and movable axially with respect thereto toward said first flange, and co-acting cam means on said second iiange and said segments for pivu oting the latter outwardly away from the arbor axis in response to movement of said second iiange toward said rst ange, wherein at least one of said segments is provided at its outer arcuate surface with a channel extending substantially from one of said flanges to the other thereof, and wherein said, anges are provided with grooves each extending from adjacent a respective end of said channel to the outer periphery of the flanges, whereby a tie wire maybe placed within the channel with the ends of the wire extending through said grooves, and means adjacent the outer periphery of the flanges for securing said tie wire ends thereto.

2. An apparatus for forming cable into coils comprising a plurality of arcuate segments aligned so as to forni a segmented cylindrical arbor around which a coil of cable may be placed, a first flange at one end of said arbor, means pivotally mounting to said flange the ends of said arbor segments adjacent thereto for pivotal movement of the segments in planes extending through the axis of the arbor, whereby the segments may be pivoted toward said axis so as to render the arbor tapered, a second harige at the other end of the arbor and movable with respect thereto, and co-acting cam means on said second flange and said segments for pivoting the latter outwardly away from the axis or" the arbor in response to movement of the second nange with respect to the arbor, wherein said means for moving said second flange with respect to the arbor comprises a plurality of pin elements, means mounting said pin elements for movement with respect to the arbor, means on said pin elements engageable with said second ange, and means for moving said pin elements with respect to the arbor.

3, A coil forming reel comprising a longitudinal member, a first ange securd to said member at one end thereof and extending transversely thereto, a plurality of arcuate segments aligned so as to form a segmented cylindrical arbor around which a coil of cable may be placed, the axis of said segmented arbor being coincident with the axis of said member, and said arbor segments being spaced radially outwardly from said member and surrounding the latter, means pivotally mounting to said flange one end of each of the arbor segments for pivotal movement of the segments in planes extending through the axis of the arbor whereby the segments may be pivoted toward and away from said member, a second flange extending parallel to said first ange and slidably mounted on the other end of the member for movement toward and away from said first flange, cams secured to said second ange and co-acting with the arbor segments for 7 pivoting the latter outwardly away from the arbor axis in response to `movement of said. .second iiange toward said rst ange, and co-actng means on said member and said second .ange for moving the latter toward said rst 'flange and for securing said second ange in xed position on said member, wherein said lastrecited eo-acting means comprises a supporting means xedly secured on said member, at least one element mounted on said supporting means for reciprocal movement toward and away from said rst ange, means on said element engageable with said second flange, and means for mov- 8 ing said element either toward or away from said rst flange.

OTTO R. WEBER.

References Cited in the v111e 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,141,449 Eppler June 1, 1915 10 1,728,144 Warner et a1 Sept. 10, 1929 1,831,848 Doney et a1 Nov. 17, 1931 2,217,966 Perkins Oct. 15, 1940 

